The fight for Marilyn's name

Thirty-four years after her death, Marilyn Monroe's name suddenly has become the focus of a new battle over trademark rights on the Internet.

CMG Worldwide, which oversees the estate of Marilyn Monroe, disclosed today that it sued Marilyn Monroe Weston Limited and its principal, Edward Weston, for trademark infringement. Weston's Web site is designed to sell photos of Monroe. "Here you will find the definitive collection of Marilyn Monroe photographs, taken by some of the finest glamour and portrait photographers in the world," it states.

"Defendants' domain name, 'marilynmonroe.com,' incorporates the registered mark, Marilyn Monroe, which is the property of CMG's principal," according to the nine-page suit filed in Superior Court in Indianapolis. "Defendants' site also features Monroe's name, image, likeness, a facsimile of her signature, and other visual depictions of Monroe, all for the purposes of furthering the sales of defendants' commercial activities."

It is the latest case of the fight over names that are used in cyberspace. Like vanity license plates, domain names have become a booming market.

And the legal battles over ownership of more popular monikers have proliferated with their popularity. Recent cases have involved Yahoo, Esquire magazine, and the Blue Note jazz club in New York.

In an interview with CNET, Weston discounted the lawsuit this way: "Marilyn's name belongs to the world. We're refuting the charges." Still, he said his lawyers are holding talks with CMG to see if a settlement can be reached.

"Weston and his site are trying to use a trademark owned by someone else to benefit themselves," Mark Roesler, chairman of CMG Worldwide, said today. "The Internet was not designed for others to take property rights from lawful owners."

CGM, which maintains its own Web site, also represents such legends as James Dean, Humphrey Bogart, Babe Ruth, Vince Lombardi, and the champion racehorse Cigar.

[ricky ray]

marilyn monroe her real biography and official web

see www.marilynmonroefoundation.com for the human behind the hollywood image. Marilyn uncensored.

[ricky ray]

marilyn's real name was Nancy she never changed legally to marilyn monroe

she didn't use her name because she had a daughter by her name nancy.

[ricky ray]

marilyn monroe never changed her name legally

the california vital records told us as we researched that she never changed her name legally to marilyn monroe

Her name is/was nancy cusomano she is of italian american heritage for the real story see www.marilynmonroefoundation.com

[ricky ray]

marilyn monroe her real name

see www.marilynmonroefoundation.com for her real biography